The Stars of Moustiers
Astronomy and music evening on the Vénascle plateau
From 9.30 pm in summer
8:30 pm off season
15 to 30 people
From this year, we welcome you for astronomy evenings and discovery of the sky at the large diameter telescope, all with the improvised accompaniment of our singer, musician on our site of Vénascle plateau in the Verdon park.
The plateau of Vénascle, in a few words : located at almost 1000 meters above sea level, on the heights of the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the place, by its altitude about 300 meters above the plateau of Valensole gives us a perfectly clear horizon over almost 360 degrees.
Far from towns and villages, we are sheltered from sources of light pollution, the place being by its exposure to the sun, its geology and its very dry altitude, makes it a perfect place to practice astronomy.
CALENDAR
Interested in one of our dates ?
GALLERY
OBSERVE AT THE BIG TELESCOPE
Come and observe the sky with the 600 millimeter diameter telescope fully motorized.
You will enjoy admiring nebulae, galaxies, globular clusters, supernova remnants sometimes located several hundred or even thousands of light-years away !…
Or visiting some planets of our solar system, such as Saturn, Jupiter or Mars…
Or walking along the lunar craters while observing the Moon at high magnification (if present).
We favor a real sky observation, by eye, with the help of a large diameter telescope only. This way of observing the sky being the one which, according to us, provides the strongest emotion ; light, after a journey over astronomical times (sometimes several million years) arriving directly in your eye, without any help other than that of the telescope mirror.
We also have an instrument allowing electronic type observations ; in this case it will consist of observing a picture produced in real time by this automated telescope, whose light has been captured by a camera and returned to you after computer processing on a screen. This method commonly called the "assisted visual" is an excellent complement to real observation, but cannot, in our opinion, replace it !
ACCESS
Follow the Vénascle cottage : 5 km before Moustiers-Sainte-Marie coming from the village of Riez, leave the D952 on the left, follow the direction Hameau de Vénascle and “Site de Vol Libre du Mont-Denier”, for 10 km until you find at your arrival our panels "Astronomie et Musique" !
Access is either entirely by car via the Vénascle road, or for those who prefer to hike, via the path from the Moustiers village center car park (distance 4 kilometres, duration 1 hour).
TO NOTE
The site in which we practice our evenings of astronomy in music is a place of full nature, in the heart of the Verdon natural park !
Also, whether you come hiking or by car, it is important that you plan warm clothes (at night at 1000 meters it can be cold, even in summer), as well as some water or something to drink.
We also strongly advise you to equip yourself with a flash light or a headlamp, our activity taking place in complete darkness !
WEATHER REPORT
Astronomical observation is highly dependent on optimal weather conditions ! Besides the rain, a simple cloud cover can greatly constrain the smooth running of the activity !
All the more, if you come on a hike, your safety is at stake. We will never send anyone to join us at our hiking astronomy site in bad weather, especially by stormy weather ! If you take the initiative to join our activity by hiking in stormy weather, we will not be held responsible in any way. We are thus likely to offer you a postponement of the activity in case of unfavorable weather.
Before your arrival, please consult the various geolocated weather sites on the Vénascle site, which we provide you with the links below :
LOCAL WEATHER FORECAST :
https://www.meteoblue.com/fr/meteo/semaine/
ASTRONOMIC SEEING FORECAST :
https://www.meteoblue.com/fr/meteo/outdoorsports/seeing/
MAP OF LIGHTNING IMPACTS IN REAL TIME :
https://www.lightningmaps.org/